How I Turned My Dreams Into Reality

After taking time away to reset and prioritize my mental health, I’m back — and this episode is personal. 💭✨

In Episode 111 of Mind Over Matter, I’m sharing the three biggest mindset lessons I learned while hosting my first major red carpet at the Caribbean Music Awards. From not even being on the press list… to creating my own space next to major media platforms… this experience stretched me, tested me, and confirmed I can do anything I put my mind to.

Transcript

Mental Health Comes First

SPEAKER_00 0:00

I hope that while I was gone, you guys are prioritizing your mental health as well. That's where we spend most of our time. It's in our minds. So make sure it's tidy, make sure it's clean, make sure it's a place you want to live in. Because that's really what projects your reality. Know that you are worthy of the good things that are happening to you. And as I walked on that red carpet, I knew with every fiber and muscle in my being that I belong there.

SPEAKER_02 0:38

Don't you believe that you can shoot for the stars? No limitations you are gonna go far. Keep on blowing and learning. Be the first version of you that you are that you are because it's money. Oh the man. You know nothing else, madness, it's money, oh the man. It's money.

unknown 1:22

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:24

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Return And Episode Setup

Why The Caribbean Music Awards Matter

Lesson One: Don’t Compromise Dreams

Using Work And School Strategically

Lesson Two: Stop Waiting For Permission

Making A Space On The Carpet

Lesson Three: Know Your Worth

Outcomes, Alignment, And Takeaways

Closing Gratitude And Share Request

SPEAKER_00 1:38

I'm gonna keep the year to a minimum, keeping it classy as 2026. I probably just need to throw out that intro altogether, but welcome back to another episode of Mind Over Matter, baby. I'm your host, Deja Wallace, and if this is your first time joining, welcome. If this is not, welcome back. You really came back to listen to another episode. That's epic. That's like legendary. Like, I appreciate you for real, for real, for coming back to listen to a whole nother episode Ponya Head Top. Episode 111 of Mind Over Matter. This is gonna be a big episode. I'm going to talk about three lessons I learned while hosting my first ever big red carpet. Yeah, let's just get right into it. I'm not gonna do too much talking. Before I rush into it, because I do this a lot, I just disappear and then I come back like nothing happened. But something happened. And I needed time to be with my family, like something, like all jokes aside, something happened, like something really life-altering, something that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. And I had to go through that experience and I had to digest that and come back with a clear level mind because this is mind of a matter, right? But I had to come back, I had to go through what I went through and come back to and make sure that before I came back, that my mental health is good and in check, first and foremost, before anything. That is the main priority, and that all that's really all that matters because it's mind of a matter, like I said, and the only thing that matters that I'm back. Okay, I didn't abandon y'all, and I'm better. I didn't forget about y'all. This is my baby, mind of a matter, baby, no pun intended. I hope that while I was gone, you guys are prioritizing your mental health as well. I hope that while I was gone, you guys were taking care of yourself, and yeah, I think it's number one priority because that's where we spend most of our time is in our minds. So make sure it's tidy, make sure it's clean, make sure it's a place you want to live in. Because that's really what projects your reality. And if your mind is trash, I'm pretty sure you projecting some pro I don't want to get into that. Let's not get into that, but let's really get into this episode. Today's episode is episode 111. This is a special one. I don't think it's an accident that I came back first episode back 2026, episode 111. You if you know, you know. That's just a sign, it's true alignment for me personally, and I hope that this episode aligns with you as well, wherever you're listening this to this, too, and it brings you some sort of enlightenment in whatever you're going through. So, in today's episode, I'm going to be talking about the Caribbean Music Awards, specifically my first ever big red carpet event, how I even got there, and three big lessons I learned from my experience on the Caribbean Music Awards. And if you don't know what the Caribbean Music Awards is, it's the awards that highlight Caribbean culture, so music, dancehall music, reggae music. Big up to all my Yadi Dem. Shout out to the whole Caribbean, but it's really just so special because Caribbean culture has just been such a pivotal staple, especially coming from where I come from in New York City. So to be a part of that was really historic, legendary, highly recommended, 10 out of 10. Big up, big up, big up the CMAs, big up the Caribbean Music Awards, thank you for the opportunity. Just wanna first and foremost thank God for that opportunity. And yeah, so I just want to talk about the three biggest lessons I've learned with one of the biggest moments and events in my career. So, number one, the first thing I learned is do not compromise with your dreams. Number two, do not wait for permission, and number three, know your worth. These are some three of the biggest lessons I've learned while going through that experience. And if this is something you're interested in, these topics spark something in you and you want to listen, kick back, relax, and enjoy this episode. The Caribbean Music Awards leading up to the Caribbean Music Awards. It was a highly anticipated event for me. I couldn't sleep the night before I had my outfit laid out. I wanted to make sure I was dressed my best and showed up my best because I knew that I knew that I was going to be sharing the red carpet with some of the biggest names in the industry. And to me, what made this moment so special was that as a Jamaican American bore born and raised in New York City, if you know, you know, you know how big Caribbean culture is in New York City. And from the first day I heard about the Caribbean Music Awards, I think it was about three years ago, I knew I had to be there. And the first time they held their event, it just made sense I was there, you know, because it's in the heart of Flatbush. I'm born and raised, Brooklyn baby, and it's not too far from where I was born and raised, where I am born and raised. And it it finally felt like something for us by us, where we could take up space unapologetically and showcase how beautiful beautiful Caribbean culture is. It's crazy because I worked right around the block from where they were hosting the Caribbean Music Awards the first time they hosted it, and they still host it at the same King's Theatre Flatbush. And what was so legendary about that is because I like the fact that they do it there, you know what I mean? It just makes so much sense. But as I was saying, I worked right around the block from it, from there at the time at my family vegan restaurant, and I remember that night specifically because after work I was rushing home to catch the bus to make sure I could really sit down and tap in with history and tune into history because that was really just like a historic event, the first ever Caribbean music awards, like crazy. So I was rushing home trying to make sure I catch the show, and on my way home, we were sitting in bumper to bumper traffic down Flatbush Avenue because of the awards. And I remember just looking at King's Theater and the traffic, and I watched the people gather outside of King's Theater waiting to go in, and I swear every single person I looked at looked like a celebrity. Everybody was dressed like they were about to go to the Grammys, as they should. It's the Caribbean Music Awards, it's even better than that, in my opinion. And they were dressed up in gowns and suits. The girls had their makeup on, kicked up, the guys had their suits on. And I was just staring out the window like whoa. Trying to see if I could catch some celebrity on the red carpet. I remember everybody on the bus was talking about like what's going on, like what's happening, like, cause the word they didn't really promote it like that the first year, so the word didn't really get out, get out. So we were all like speculating what was happening, talking about, you know, what was happening. Everybody, Caribbean auntie had some type of theory what was going on in there. Bus was just everybody was just gathered at the window looking. And I went home that night and I streamed the show, and it was one of the best things I had ever witnessed on TV. It wasn't even on TV at the time. I had to stream it on YouTube, it wasn't even on TV. So there were so many technical different difficulties. I was there, me and my dad were watching it, and I screamed at the television like I had no sense. Like we both were like, we just lost every brain cell watching a show. Like, you know how it gets if you're Caribbean, you know how it gets. But it was louder in this in the house, louder than when Usain Boat won the Olympics in 2008. Yeah, it was it was louder than when Barack Obama won presidency. Like we were just yelling at the TV. But if you had told me two years later, I would be hosting the Caribbean Music Awards and interviewing legends like Elephant Man Pun the River Pun the Bunk, Sizzla, Just When at the Host Days. Along with some of the biggest names in entertainment, DJ Khaled, Boju Banton, all right there. Like I could literally touch them. I would have said, I wouldn't have been able to process it if you were to tell me I would be there on the red carpet at in that moment. Yeah, this brings me to my first lesson. Do not lesson number one, do not compromise with your dreams. If I did not believe in myself, point blank period, I would have never been on the red carpet, fulfilling my dreams. Do not compromise with your dreams. It took about four and a half years for me to reach that point. Four and a half years, it means just doing this, talking to my camera, talking to the mic, being vulnerable with the world, and consistently, that's the key right there, showing up for the podcast to get access to even be on the Caribbean Music Awards red carpet. And I was just so proud of myself in that moment because I just remember how much work it took to get there. And four and a half years is still sometimes, some people, it takes longer, you know. Some of your favorite artists, they didn't get a break until a decade into working, you know. Two chains, he didn't get a break until he was 40 years old, like or something like that. I have to do my research. Let me fact check that. Some of the biggest stars you were watching right now, they did not get a break overnight. It took them years and years of hard work, and it just felt like confirmation, that moment that I was on the right track. And it just reminded me of all the times as well. Anybody try to belittle the podcast, like are you still doing your little YouTube, still doing your little podcast, or tried to convince me to spend time doing something else that wasn't aligned with what I was building? I respectfully always declined, and I made sure I put all my effort into becoming the best podcaster I could be. You know, in this economy that's not easy, but even while working a nine to five and going to school, going to college, getting my degree, I never lost sight of the overall mission and the vision that was instilled in me. Becoming the best, most syndicated podcaster in the world. I started looking at my nine to five strategically. When you have that mindset and that vision, everything becomes looked at a lens of through how does this contribute to my vision. A lot of the times people look at things pessimistically, like working a 9 to 5, man, I need it. It's taken away from me fulfilling my dreams. I shifted my mindset while working at that vegan restaurant, even though I missed the Caribbean Music Awards, shifted my mindset and I focus on what I can control, you know, like my health, eating foods that nourish my body while I was there, eating brain foods that helped me express myself on the podcast in a way that I'm proud of, having the mental clarity to just verbalize myself in a way that I would like to be just portrayed in the world and expressing myself in a way that I could say, yeah, yeah, you know, I don't even know, yeah, but I applied what I learned directly to the podcast and all the things I were doing, even if it looked like how can you apply that to podcasting? I found a way to apply it to podcasting because my that's what happens when your mind is set on something. And yeah, even while in college, you know, I was able to use the resources in college to get access to the equipment and the radio station and continue recording episodes from the radio station in Brooklyn College, and I was able to network, build just connections with people while I was there to open doors for me. And I never allowed my nine to five, I never allowed it to use me. I never allowed my nine to five to use me. I use it, and in return, I did not compromise with my dream, and that's the big lesson that I learned while doing the red carpet is to do not, do not, do not compromise with your dreams. Because if I did, I wouldn't have had that life-changing experience. Just remember also, life is about the journey, not the destination. So trust in just the process. Lesson two, do not wait for permission from anyone. Give yourself that permission. This is a big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big, big lesson. Especially at this age that I'm at, where I'm going into like, you know, really like owning the fact that I am an adult now. You don't have to ask for permission anymore, you know? And that day on the Caribbean Music Awards, this was the epitome of me of me giving myself that permission. I I walked into the press room and the first thing they said to me was, Your name is not on the list. It wasn't in their system. I didn't, I wasn't there in their records. And they're there searching through their emails, looking for my name, scratching their heads. Neither was the media company I was working with at the time or my name was in their records. And I was already feeling overwhelmed at the time. There was already a lot of little small frustrations that tried to set me back that day. And little things like I had a wardrobe malfunction. I had to buy a bobby pin, the bobby pin broke. I wasn't sure how much um access my cameraman would have to the getting inside the ceremony. So it was just a lot of things on my plate, and that was just like trying to really KO me, really knock me out, and really just finish me. But I was just looking at them and I just smiled. I was like, okay, I didn't let it discourge me. I don't let the obstacles I face discourage me because I realized that it's an opportunity to express my faith, to exercise my faith, and to use perseverance. So when the person working at the desk told me that they couldn't find my name, I didn't panic. I took a deep breath and I said, you know what? Okay. Started making some calls, started talking to the people I came with, and by the grace of God, we were able to use one of our connections to secure us all media passes. My cameraman, um, my partner, and we made our way to the red carpet. So we're now on the red carpet, and I think we're like the second people on the red carpet, and the only other person was somebody that I used to work with. Um, and she was just there getting ready on the red carpet, and just being there. I don't know. It it it's it's smaller in person being on a red carpet than it looks on TV. At least that red carpet. I just started like taking in the environment. I started looking for the the media company that I was going on the behalf of. So I start reading the names, I see Billboard, I see Hot 97, I see the view, I just see a bunch of different media companies, and I'm just like, okay, reading, reading. I still can't find mine. I'm like, okay. I don't have a spot on the carpet. Instead of asking for somebody where's my spot or asking for permission, you know what I did? I made my spot on the red carpet right next to Hot 97 and billboard at the very front of the red carpet, and at the time I didn't even know it was the front of the red carpet. I just thought, you know what? This looks like a nice spot. Cameraman, you could set up right here. So I didn't even realize at the time that was the prime location where all the celebrities would be walking in first. So I told my cameraman, let's start recording, and we started recording. And I say that story just to show you that if I had asked for permission, they probably wouldn't have even given me a spot on that carpet. They probably would have completely just disregarded it and kicked me off the red carpet. Or they probably would have given me a spot, the last spot on the edge, because it's just convenient. So that's why I have to really like show you why it's so important for you to not ask for permission. Don't wait. Because if I waited and asked you for per permission, I would have missed the biggest opportunity of my career. And I don't want you to miss your opportunity just because you're waiting for somebody to validate you or give you permission to do that thing you really want to do. Give yourself the permission, make your own table, make your own spot, and just keep showing up for yourself. Boom. That brings me to lesson number three. Know your worth. Know that you are worthy of the good things that are happening to you. And as I walked on that red carpet, I knew with every fiber and muscle in my being that I belong there, and I was worthy of sharing that space with some of the biggest names in media. I'm talking about. Hot 97. I'm talking about Billboard, the billboard, rubbing shoulders right next to me. And if I didn't think I belonged there, my energy, it would have showed that I would have raised a lot of red flags, and somebody probably would have approached me like, oh, can I see your credentials? Where are you supposed to be? But no, I knew I was supposed to be there. So what the universe, the atmosphere around me, attracted exactly what I knew I was worthy of. When you know you're worthy of everything you prayed for, the atmosphere just and the universe and God finds a way to just turn that delusion into reality. So I had to move like I belong because I knew I did. If I didn't, I knew it would have made security or even events staff approach me and start questioning me. But because I carry myself like I was supposed to be there, I attracted a more desirable outcome. The outcome that I envisioned for myself. And it even went so deep as to like the celebrities were gravitating towards me, you know. They were waiting to be interviewed, they were like looking at me. Like the first celebrity walk on the carpet, he approached my media, mind of a matter first, you know. And I'm sharing this story not to brag, but to show you the power of not compromising with your dreams, of not asking for permission, and knowing and how knowing your worth can change your life on and off the red carpet. And I hope that implementing at least one of these principles, it can do the same for you. I hope you enjoyed this episode. Remember to tell a friend, to tell a friend, to tell a friend's auntie that is mind over matter. Baby